Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Announces 2008 American Music Masters Tribute Concert Lineup

Billy Gibbons, Slash, Richie Sambora and the Venturesamong those will play to honor the legendary honoree Les Paul

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University and Gibson Guitar will honor the extraordinary Les Paul with a tribute concert lineup that befits this musical legend. The tribute concert lineup includes Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: James Burton, Billy Gibbons and the Ventures along with Jennifer Batten, Dennis Coffey, Lenny Kaye, Steve Lukather, Barbara Lynn, Alannah Myles, Richie Sambora and Slash.

The 13th annual American Music Masters tribute concert will take place on Saturday, November 15, at 8 p.m. at PlayhouseSquare’s State Theater. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 and can be purchased at playhousesquare.org and at the PlayhouseSquare box office (216) 241-6000 or by visiting www.rockhall.com . A limited number of Rock Hall VIP event packages (priced at $250 and $500) are available by calling (216) 515-1207.

This once-in-a-lifetime concert features an all-star lineup of artists who will perform to honor the legendary inventor and musician known as Les Paul. This event also tells the story of Paul's life and legacy through multimedia and special tributes. Visit www.rockhall.com for updated information about the concert, the weeklong series of events and for more information about Les Paul. Don't miss this chance to witness a guitar fest for the ages.

Community partner Cuyahoga County Public Library invites Les Paul’s friends and fans to post and share tributes and stories using the latest technologies by visiting conTRIBUTE at www.rockhall.com . The site will go live on October 20. This partnership with the library allows people near and far to post written, video or photograph accolades and to share their anecdotes about Paul’s impact. The testimonials will be permanently housed in the Rock Hall’s Library and Archives scheduled to open to the public in 2010.

The complete weeklong series of events will be announced shortly.

About the American Music Masters series:

The American Music Masters series, a co-production of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University, celebrates the lives and careers of artists who changed the shape and sound of American culture. Each year, the series explores the legacy of one of those pioneering figures in a range of events that includes Museum exhibits, lectures, films, a major conference and a tribute concert benefiting the Rock Hall’s Education Department. Drawing together experts, artists, fans and friends, these events aim to provide new perspectives on some of the most beloved and influential musicians of the past century.

The American Music Masters series began in 1996 when the museum paid tribute to Woody Guthrie with a 10-day celebration of his life and legacy. Other American Music Masters series honorees have included: the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers in 1997; blues legend, Robert Johnson in 1998; rhythm and blues pioneer, Louis Jordan in 1999; the legendary Muddy Waters in 2000; the “Empress” Bessie Smith in 2001; Hank Williams, the first country western superstar in 2002; Buddy Holly in 2003; folk-blues artist Lead Belly in 2004; Sam Cooke in 2005; Roy Orbison in 2006; and Jerry Lee Lewis in 2007. Artists who have performed at American Music Masters® include Solomon Burke, Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin, Chrissie Hynde, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.

About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission both through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, the Museum is open until 9 p.m. Museum admission is $22 for adults, $17 for seniors (65+), $13 for youth (9-12), $18 for adult residents of Greater Cleveland. Children under 8 and Museum members are free. The Museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. When you become a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the world of rock and roll becomes yours to explore. Call 216.515.1939 for information on becoming a member. For general inquiries, please call 216.781.ROCK or visit www.rockhall.com

About Gibson Guitar: Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar and the Gibson Robot Guitar represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com or www.gibson.com/press.